Source: Malaysiakini

After plying their trade in the area for half a century, the Liew family is staring at a bleak future. They have been ordered to vacate the reserve land belonging to Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) in Kanthan, Chemor, in Perak.

Liew Chin Nam, 64, who makes joss-sticks and joss paper, is now fighting for his right to be recognised as a legitimate tenant.

The worried businessman spends his days gazing at the calendar as the deadline draws near to vacate the half-acre site.

Liew related his ordeal to Malaysiakini.

He said four men came to his office on Monday and told him to vacate the site by the end of the month.

They warned that the land office, with the help of the police, would evict him on July 1.

“I have less than a week. Where do I go from here to earn my living?” he lamented.

His father Liew Chee had started a tapioca business under the name of Tai Cheong Co in the 1960s on the railway reserve land and paid
rent of RM125 a month in rental to KTMB.

However, the tapioca business nosedived and Liew started manufacturing joss-sticks and joss paper under the name of Wai Lek Trading Co in 1986.

### Double-tracking project

Everything was running smoothly until KTMB started the double-tracking railway project. Since then, Liew has faced tremendous pressure to vacate the land.

On Oct 29 last year, he received a notice of eviction from the Railway Asset Corporation (a KTMB subsidiary).

Liew replied on Nov 11 stating that he was not a squatter, but a legitimate tenant and that his family had been paying rent since the 1960s.

He then approached ousted Pakatan Rakyat menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin for help. Nizar wrote a support letter for him to the Kinta District Land Office on Nov 17 to approve the application for an alternative site.

According to Liew, KTMB had continued to receive the monthly rent until February this year when they refused to accept payment and ordered him out.

“I have four children who have all gone to Singapore seeking greener pastures. My wife and I are struggling to continue with the business.

“At first my business was good with a monthly income of RM4,000 and my orders came from as far as Singapore.

“During the good times, I employed many workers but now I have reduced the workforce as business has dwindled after the eviction scare.”

### Police report lodged

On Tuesday, Liew lodged a police report against the Kinta District Land Office, KTMB, Railway Assets Corporation and Gamuda Bhd for trying to evict him forcefully without following the legal process.

“The report is also a precautionary measure to prevent the land office from making use of the police to forcefully evict me at the end of the month,” he explained.

“I cannot defend my rights as a legitimate tenant if the police come into the picture. In the first place, the land office cannot intrude into private property and work for the interests of the railway authorities and Gamuda.

“All that I am asking is that they provide me with another piece of land to continue my business. If they want to take action against me, then they should go through the proper process by taking me to court.

“However, they prefer to take the easy way out by making use of the land office and police to vacate me.”

Liew also alleged that Gamuda officials had told him several days ago that they would remove the electricity pole which carries power supply to his premises.

“They claimed that it is hindering the progress of work in the double- tracking project,” he said.

### PSM joins in the fight

**Meanwhile, Parti Sosialis Malaysia national deputy chairperson M Saraswathy said she has been helping Liew to fight for his legal rights as a tenant of KTMB since last November.**

“KTMB can only vacate its tenants through a court order as specified under Section 7(1), (2) and (3) of the Specific Relief Act 1950. Any other shortcut method of forcefully vacating the tenant is illegal,” she stressed.

“The land office’s pending action is a misuse of power and is high-handed.”

Saraswathy suggested that the parties involved hold a dialogue with Liew to reach an amicable solution.

“Is it wrong to ask for an alternative piece of land after doing business for the past 49 years?” she asked.